Groups Contact Details & Calendar

Walking Football

Please check the details in the text below particularly, when to play, as we do not play every week – it depends on numbers.

Contact:  Peter Clare

Would you like to play football again? Or learn the skills for the first time whilst enjoying a game and making new friends?  If so, contact Peter Clare the Group Leader and join a team of U3A Cheltenham members – contact details below.

Our aim is to have fun being part of a friendly team of mixed ages, mixed abilities and gender and background to make this team spirited experience.

The Game:

A small-sided, low impact, modified version of the football game, suitable for all levels of ability and fitness, from people who are returning to sport after a break or those who have never played before. Both men and women are encouraged to take part in mixed teams. It is essentially a gentler version of the game of football with rules that make it social, safe & fun. It is designed to encourage older participants in an enjoyable format as a team-based exercise to provide physical and mental health benefits with social contact for everyone no matter their age or skill. It therefore encourages inter-generational interaction and enables participants to retain links with their local clubs as members or volunteers. It can be played indoors or outside but our current arrangements are indoor based.

Rules:

Non-Contact

Above head height restriction on ball

No heading the ball

No playing with reckless or dangerous intent

Walking instead of running – with one foot on the ground

No Offside

No side tackles, trips, strikes, pushes, shoulder barge

No throw ins

Penalty is a one-step only kick.

Games can be played with or without a goalkeeper.

The rules can be varied to allow for age, skill level & capability.

 The Kit:

 Footwear needs to have a good grip with toe protection, shorts & any shirt; we provide bibs to identify teams.

What, where and when

We are a new group just getting to know each other. We aim to play every week all year round but as we are just getting started arrangements are being kept flexible at this stage to allow for when members wanting to play in a particular week are too few. We manage this weekly with a check on numbers planning to come beforehand but ultimately our aim is to operate on a turn up and play basis.

Games take place indoor at the Cheltenham YMCA Sports Centre GL51 8NY located on College Drive signposted off the Arle Road and are scheduled weekly on Tuesdays @12.45pm to 1.45pm (one hour).

The cost for each game is £5 to cover the hire.

If this sounds like you something you would like to be part of, please email me at the following address [email protected]. (please note it is peter underscore clare)